November 2024

Pink Spotted Lady Beetles

As a naturalist, I receive a lot of phone calls about various subjects and one topic comes up frequently, “where are all the ladybugs.”These individuals lament that all they see are the Asian variety that bite and infest their homes. I can certainly empathize with their concern, as I too am concerned about the plight of the native lady beetles.However, it is not just the ladybugs that are in trouble, it is insects in general.

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Savannah resident charged with elder exploitation

SAVANNAH, Mo. — An investigation by the Andrew County Sheriff's Department has led to the arrest of a 42-year-old Savannah resident and a charge of felony exploitation of two Andrew County senior citizens for stealing more than $75,000.William McHenery Graebe has been charged with three felony counts.Besides the exploitation charge he faces a stealing charge and a forgery charge.

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Don't let the holiday season set you up for debt in 2025

The holiday season may be warm, merry and bright, but it’s also a time when it’s all too easy to spend more than you plan to and rack up debt you can’t manage.According to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, here’s how to celebrate the season in style while positioning yourself for a financially healthy 2025:Create your budget: Take a look at your budget to determine how much you can earmark for holiday expenses. Do you need to cut back on any nonessential spending to afford the holiday season you desire? Make a comprehensive list of all your expected expenditures, including for travel, hosting, decorating, gifting and charitable giving.

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